llberg," called the major from the pilot-house.

The lieutenant looked as though he had just been through one war;
for he had slept none the night before, and had been on duty without
intermission. He came to the hurricane-deck, and entered the
pilot-house, where he dropped on the sofa abaft the wheel as though he
were not in much better condition than the captain when he fell at his
post.

"You have made a night of it, Dallberg," the major began, seating
himself by the side of the lieutenant.

"I am about used up, major. I believe I walked ten miles on shore; and I
am not as strong as I wish I was," replied Mr. Dallberg. "But I found
out all I wanted to know, and I expected the Leopard would be somewhere
near the creek."

"I beg your pardon, Major Pierson," said Christy, who was standing at
the wheel. "What am I to do now?"

"I will tell you in a moment.--Can you tell me, Dallberg, where the
Bellevite is at the present time?" asked the major, turning to the
lieutenant.

"She seems to be running up and down across the head of the bay. She is
beyond that point now, and you will see her when you go within a mile of
the land," replied the lieutenant.

"Have you been near her?"

"Not within a mile of her, I should say."

"All right, you may head her within a mile of that point, Captain
Passford," added the major; and Christy rang to go ahead.

When the major applied this high-sounding title to the new captain, the
lieutenant opened his eyes a little; but he asked no questions, for he
had learned as he came on board that Captain Pecklar had fainted at his
post.

"Well, what have you been about, Dallberg?" asked the major rather
impatiently, as soon as the boat was under way again.

"Walking, talking, and rowing most of the time. As the poet says,
'Things are not what they seem,'" replied the scout; for such appeared
to be the duty in which he had been engaged.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Major Pierson, opening his eyes very
wide.

"We discovered that the steamer had left the wharf last night, and you
sent me to investigate when you started off in that wagon."

"That's so; and Pecklar reported to me early this morning that the
steamer had left the wharf, and was standing off and on in the bay."

"I went ashore in the evening, leaving Pecklar to watch the steamer.
I don't know any thing about his movements."

"He reported to me this morning about daylight. It is all right as far
as he is concerned